IPCC Procedures for the Preparation, Review and Publication of its
Technical Papers

At its Eleventh Session (Rome, 11-15 December 1995), the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change adopted by consensus the following procedures for the
preparation of Technical Papers.

IPCC Technical Papers are prepared on topics for which an independent,
international scientific/technical perspective is deemed essential. They:

a)&nbsp are based on the material already in the IPCC assessment
reports and special reports

b)&nbsp are initiated: (i) in response to a formal request from the
Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change or
its subsidiary bodies and agreed by the IPCC Bureau: or (ii) as decided by the
Panel;

c)&nbsp are prepared by a team of authors, including a convening lead
author, selected by the IPCC Bureau, in accordance with the guidelines of the
selection of lead authors contained in the IPCC Procedures;*

d)&nbsp are submitted in draft form for simultaneous expert and government
review at least four weeks before the comments are due;

e)&nbsp are revised by the lead authors based upon the comments reviewed
in the step above;

f)&nbsp are submitted for final government review at least four weeks
before the comments are due;

g)&nbsp are finalized by the lead authors, in consultation with the IPCC
Bureau which functions in the role of an editorial board, based on the
comments received; and,

h)&nbsp if necessary, as determined by the IPCC Bureau, would include in
an annex differing views, based on comments made during final government
review, not otherwise adequately reflected in the paper.

Such Technical Papers are then made available to the Conference of the
parties or its subsidiary body, in response to its request, and thereafter
publicly. If initiated by the Panel, Technical Papers are made available
publicly. In either case, IPCC Technical Papers prominently state in the
beginning:

"This is a Technical Paper of the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change prepared in response to a [request from the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change]/[decision of the Panel]. The material
herein has undergone expert and government review but has not been considered
by the Panel for possible acceptance or approval."

* Preparation of the first draft of a report should be undertaken
by lead
authors identified by the relevant Working Group bureau from those experts
cited in the lists provided by all countries and participating organizations,
with due consideration being given to those known through their publication or
work. In so far as practicable, the composition of the group of lead authors
for a section of a report shall reflect fair balance among different points of
view that can reasonably be expected by the Working Group bureau, and should
include at least one expert from a developing country.